Posts for tag: wellness

The world is changing. The effects of our collective behaviors have reached a level where they are now very noticeable. The planet is heating up, species of plants and animals are disappearing at an alarming rate, natural disasters are on the rise, single-use plastic waste has become an epidemic, and certain resources are dwindling. However, there are individuals and organizations that are doing extraordinary things in the way of saving our planet.

What’s truly inspiring though, is that each and every one of us has the power to affect the planet in a positive way. Little changes in the way we shop, commute, consume, take care of ourselves, and live can make monumental differences in the future of our world. As we are living in an age where health and wellness consciousness is at the forefront, integrating a wellness routine into our lives that is also environmentally-friendly is a trend that only seems to be gaining more momentum.

What’s good for the planet is good for you.

The beauty of creating a wellness-based lifestyle that is also environmentally-friendly is that it is easy! To get started, start by

Eliminating the use of single-use plastics

Did you know that 8 million tons of plastic finds its way into our oceans every year? A lot of that plastic is from items that we only use once and sometimes only for a few minutes. Plastic bags, bottles, coffee lids and stirrers, and straws are among the most commonly disposed plastic items.

Making the switch to re-useable water bottles, to-go coffee cups, grocery bags, and straws is a simple switch that can make a significant difference in the future of our seas.

Giving up red meat

The amount of water, land, and resources that is required to maintain livestock is mind-blowing. Did you know it takes around 2,400 gallons of water to “create” a single pound of beef? Did you know that it takes 10 pounds of grain to “create” a single pound of beef?

And did you know that cow farts and burps are responsible for 14-18% of the harmful greenhouse gas methane that is released into our atmosphere every year? There are over a billion and a half cows on the planet and every day each cow is very regularly releasing methane, which is greatly contributing to the warming of our planet.

Not only is spending time in the great outdoors good for your physical and mental health, it is also good for the environment. By running, walking, biking, practicing yoga, or other forms of exercise outdoors you are eliminating the use of electricity from your exercise routine.

Eating seasonally, locally, and more plant-based

The further food has to travel the more of a negative impact it has on the environment. Today, we can pretty much get any type of food from anywhere around the world at any time of the year. However, opting to eat what is in season and what is grown or thriving close to your home-base will significantly reduce the carbon-footprint of the food that you are eating.

Plus, the fresher the food the better it is going to taste!

Reading labels

The ignorance card is not valid when it comes to making choices that are not only good for our health and wellness, but that are good for the planet. It is truly impressive that amount of information that can be found on the packaging and label of an item.

Every decision that you make not only affects you but the world around you. Everything and everyone is interconnected. If we start collectively making better decisions, we will come into a future where we are not only healthier, but our planet is healthier too.

As we’ve just wrapped up a seven-part series on the seven dimensions of wellness (check it out if you haven’t yet on the Parker Dentistry blog), we thought it only made sense to dive a bit deeper and look at some of the top wellness trends of 2018.

As preventative healthcare continues to evolve, and research continues to provide us with more valuable information regarding our health and wellness, we have the unique opportunity to continue to learn and improve our state of wellbeing.

At Parker Dentistry Facial Rejuvenation and Wellness, we believe in holistic and preventative healthcare. We know that your oral health affects more than just your mouth, and the same applies to all of the other systems and parts of your body.

Wellness trends seems to be moving in a more eco-conscious, “from the earth,” and mindful direction. Many of us are now more interested in finding natural alternatives and realizing that a lot of our symptoms and ailments come from what we are putting in or on our bodies. Many of us are also more interested in finding the source of the symptoms opposed to solely medicating the symptoms into dominancy. This is a positive shift.

The perfect balance is a combination of preventative and curative healthcare since not everything that happens to us from a health prospective is completely in our control or completely preventable. However, through education, self-inquiry, and guidance from healthcare and wellness professionals, more of us are learning the true power of nutrition, exercise, stress-releasing activities, and adequate sleep.

The things we have control over we need to take control of and this includes our wellness. Come with us on a journey of exploration as we take a look at some of the most impactful and inspiring wellness trends of the year. The more you know the better equipped you will be to make the best possible decisions regarding your health and wellness.

Last week, we introduced the seven dimensions of wellness from a holistic approach to health and wellness. The seven dimensions are spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical, social, environmental, and occupational. At Parker Dentistry, aside from being an advocate for preventative healthcare, we are also a strong believer in holistic health, meaning that we believe all parts of our physical and emotional being are connected and shouldn’t be viewed or treated as mere parts.

The first dimension of wellness that we will take a closer look at is our spiritual wellness.

“Spiritual wellness is a process of understanding beliefs, values, and ethics that help guide your life. Whatever your preferred approach, spending time asking and exploring your spiritual life can be an important part of your overall wellbeing.”

One of the most important relationships of our entire lives is the relationship that we build and nurture with ourselves. Practices like yoga, meditation, journaling, arts and crafts, walking, gardening, or any other creative, physical, or nature-involved activity helps us to connect with our inner selves. Finding something that you love to do that is just for you is truly invaluable.

Our spirituality can be whatever we want it to be. For some, spending time in the ocean is spiritual, while for others sitting on the patio and watching a storm offers a similar reflective experience. The idea is to disconnect from the distractions of your everyday life and outside influences so that you can connect with your inside world.

The more in touch we are with our feelings, our desires and dreams, our areas that need improvement, our creative side, our inner voice, and how we connect with the world from within, the better off we will be on all levels. Our spiritual wellness is linked to all other dimensions of our wellness.

Wellness includes far more than just our physical wellbeing and state of health though. The holistic approach to health and wellness is actually made up of seven main dimensions that are all interconnected. It is important to understand what each dimension includes and the ways in which you can promote wellness in each particular dimension in order to promote wellness as a whole. Holistic health involves looking at ourselves and our health as a whole and not in parts. What is happening in one part of our bodies or our lives affects every other part. Our existence is cyclical.

Our wellness is in our hands, and it is definitely helpful to be given valuable tools, resources, information, and tips to help inspire and teach us how to live out our healthiest and happiest lives. That is what the Parker Dentistry blog really aims to do. Over the next seven weeks, we will break down each of the seven dimensions of wellness, offer tips on how to improve each particular dimension in your life, and illustrate how each dimension is connected to all of the rest.

The first question we will answer in this informative, inspiring, and wellness-promoting mini-series is what the seven dimensions of wellness are.